Assistance choosing an M.S. Statistics school

[Semidevilz]

I'm trying to get into a Masters program in Statistics, and below are a few that seemed interesting. I was wondering if anyone who has any feedback, experience, or heard anything on the programs. I"m already full time employed as an analyst, so I'm not getting it to start a new career. Rather, I want to advance my analytical skills and and step into a data science role. I'm mainly interested in machine learning and predictive analytics. I don't plan to get a ph.D, but I would like to have a strong foundation that can help me move between jobs if ever needed.

With that said, here's the schools I found, with some comments from me.

Penn state Masters in applied statistics:
https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/applied-statistics-masters/overview

This one seems interesting. My only concern is this part of the description The master's program is designed to help you develop your data-analytic skills and explores the core areas of applied statistics (DOE, ANOVA, Analysis of Discrete Data, MANOVA, and many more) — without delving too deeply into the foundations of mathematical statistics.

Is this something to be worried about? I want it to be rigorous enough that it is respectable.

Texas A&M Masters in statistics
https://online.stat.tamu.edu/prospective-students/

I've heard good things about this one, but I also read reviews that it is very old school so you don't get to use software such as R, python, and more of the 'modern' techniques of statistics

Rochester Masters statistics
http://www.rit.edu/ritonline/program/APPSTAT-MS
I like this one because it has 15 hours of electives, so I get to specialize.

North carolina state masters statistics
https://online.stat.ncsu.edu/online-programs/online-masters-degree-program/
Don't know much about

Idaho state MS in statistical science https://www.uidaho.edu/sci/stat/academics/online-ms-degreeKentucky state https://stat.as.uky.edu/mas

Colorado state https://www.online.colostate.edu/degrees/applied-statistics/

Does anyone have any thoughts on any of these schools, whether it's through experience or through gossip? If you had to choose a top 3, which one would it be and why?

 

[TonyG]

I cannot speak for any specific programs or schools. However, my advice would be to thoroughly research each program and speak to current or former students if possible. Look for reviews and testimonials from graduates to get a better understanding of the program's strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, consider reaching out to the faculty or department to ask about their curriculum and any opportunities for hands-on experience with software and modern techniques. Ultimately, the best program for you will depend on your personal goals and preferences, so it's important to carefully evaluate each option and choose the one that aligns best with your needs.